When I attended the National NEA/JSPA convention back in April, I found myself talking amongst a group of other Opinion editors, one of whom was from Florida.

Late into the discussion, the Florida editor brought up how she and the other editors had to submit the rough draft of their print newspaper to their school principal before it could get published. If the principal found an article he didn’t like, he could remove it without the editors’ consent. Ultimately, the Florida editor had little power over what she could and could not write.

The Mirror does no such thing. We do not submit our newspapers to any administrators or teachers save for Mr. Goins, our adviser. 

The Florida editor’s issue, nonetheless, intrigues me. It represents everything wrong with the Sunshine State today, both on a political and ethical level. 

One of the recent controversies surrounding the state and its governor, Ron DeSantis, concerns the teaching of AP African American Studies in Florida public high schools. Back in January, Governor DeSantis and his board rejected the course, citing how it violated parts of the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts how race and sexuality is taught in Florida classrooms. The College Board, rather unfortunately, bent to Florida’s demands and removed the more controversial topics from its curriculum, most of which addressed critical race theory in one form or another.

Another controversy under Florida’s belt is the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Formally known as the Parental Rights in Education Bill, it was signed into law in March 2022 and strengthened earlier this year. This bill prohibits the discussion of LGTBQ topics in classrooms as early as fourth grade. Other bills, similar in scope, have been passed, such as a bill that prohibits teachers and school staff from calling a student by their preferred pronouns.

These are but the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous other laws that DeSantis has passed that restrict everything from abortion to college diversity programs to Disney World’s governing rights. 

I can’t help but notice that Florida seems to resemble a fascist country. DeSantis, for example, has a penchant for punishing free speech, whether it’s in Florida public schools or an entertainment company’s values. Nor does he like free discussions surrounding race or sexuality. It’s almost as if he is actively trying to control exactly what Florida residents should and should not believe in, beginning at the elementary education level. And unfortunately, if you’re part of a racial minority or the LGTBQ community in Florida, you’re going to find your rights restricted the most.

How sadistic must one be to impose these types of restrictions on millions of people living under your jurisdiction? Some of these are children who aren’t aware of what rights of theirs are being violated or why they feel confused about their identity. 

Ron DeSantis is abusing his position of power as governor of Florida. As a public servant, he should be assisting and protecting his residents. Instead, he chooses to trample on their rights for his own political gain. More attention needs to be brought to the cause of Florida’s plight, instead of being focused on the symptoms of DeSantis’s reign.